You’d be surprised how binge-worthy they are

After a long and exhausting Monday, you’re finally home. You just want to kick off your shoes, crawl into bed, and put on a good movie or TV show to escape into another world.

If you choose to put on a local production, then congratulations, you are doing something different from the majority.

When it comes to entertainment, many of us go for Hollywood, Netflix or Korean dramas. But there’s nothing like local content that can give us something familiar to relate to, through people who actually look like us on screen. Don’t limit that screen to traditional TV and the Mediacorp shows – YouTube and even Netflix are home to plenty of excellent local web series, produced by Singapore independent production companies and starring talented rising actors. They may be produced on a tighter budget, but these five web series don’t skimp out on quality, and some have the awards to back them up.

So get comfy with your laptop or phone, and put away your assumptions about our local entertainment. You’ve never seen modern dating, friendships and office politics in Singapore explored like this.

1. Average Guys

Think The Office, but set in Singapore! Inspired by the popular mockumentary style of The Office and Parks and Recreation, Average Guys proves that Singaporeans can be funny. In October 2017, local video agency The Hummingbird Co. released the pilot episode, and the series has since been winning over many Singaporeans with their genuine humour and fresh takes on Singapore social issues. We go behind-the-scenes of Sharp Images, a fictional video production team made up of four guys and a woman, and follow their filmmaking ambitions and daily workplace absurdities. A parody on creator Cheng Chai Hong’s own experiences of making corporate videos, the fully self-funded series stars a talented cast of young actors, including model-actress Jasmine Sim and two-time Straits Times Life! Theatre Award nominee Thomas Pang. Cheng doesn’t play it all safe with his jokes – get ready to confront racial stereotypes and sexual harassment, but don’t be surprised if you start laughing at how ridiculous they are.